Gromet and washer.



W. SHAW.

GROMET AND WASHER.

APPLIICATION FILED MAY 20. I910.

I 1,163,1 12., Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

'Ui Nrrn STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

WALTER SHAW, or Bos'roN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY ooMPA-NY, or PATEBSON, NEW JERSEY, A GORPORATIGN OF NEW JERSEY.

GROMET AND WASHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

\IatentedDee. 7,1915.

Application fil ed May 20, 1910. Serial No. 562,516.

Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Gromets and Washers, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters I on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to certain improvements in gromets and Washers and more particularly to an improved washer for use with gromets such as are commonly employed in sail, awning and hammock work.

Heretofore it has been customary to employ a gromet and a flat washer in this class of work, the gromet being inserted in an aperture in the Work and having its barrel clenched upon the outer surface of a washer which has been previously placed upon the other surface of the work. This arrangement is satisfactory where the gromet is set by hand but much difliculty has been experienced in handling a thin flat washer with automatic machinery. It has been found difficult to design a hopper which will feed thin washers to a raceway and it has also been found diflicult to design a raceway in which such washers will not become jammed.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate the diiiiculties above mentioned by providing the washer with a short thin barrel which will permit the washer to be handled as easily as an ordinary eyelet. The barrel of the washer, not exceeding in length the usual thickness of the Work in which the gromet is to be inserted, does not interfere with the clenching or setting of the gromet.

In setting a gromet and washer of this character they are moved into alinement with a previously punched hole in the work. The barrel of the gromet is projected through the hole and into the barrel of the washer and then the setting pressure is applied which forces the barrel of the gromet through the washer and rolls it outwardly clenching it against the outer face thereof while the barrel of the washer is also forced into the hole in the work. The barrel of the washer is also preferably made thin enough so that in case it should be subjected to pres sure in use it will offer slight resistance to crushing and thus will not interfere with the operation of setting the gromet or do otherv damage. This feature will be found advantageous when it is desired to set gromets in work which is thinner than the length of the washer barrel.

The barrel of the washer is not depended upon to secure the parts in place in the work but is primarily for the purpose of producing a washer of such formation as can be easily and certainly handled by an automatic machine. The said barrel therefore may be very thin and is adapted to be easily crushed.

An embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective View of the parts as applied, showing the washer in position on the work with the gromet clenched upon it; Fig. 2 is an edge view of the parts assembled before clenching; Fig. 3 is a section on the line (e-a of Fig. l; and Fig. 4L is a perspective view' showing the gromet and washer separated.

In the drawings, 1 and 2 designate, respectively, the gromet and washer comprising the improved combination. The gromet 1 comprises, as is usual, an annular flange 3 and a tapered barrel portion 4.

The washer 2 consists of a substantially flat annular portion 5 and a light thin continuous barrel portion 6, the latter being thinned preferably by drawing in dies, when the washer is formed from a single piece of material. It is obvious, however, that it is not essential that the washer and barrel be integral as they might be constructed separately of material of different thickness and suitably secured together.

As will be seen, the barrel 6 is larger in diameter than the barrel of the gromet and is of a length not greater than the thickness of the work being operated on and, being continuous and smooth, the washer can be successfully handled in the hopper and raceway of an automatic machine.

Numeral 7 designates the material in which the gromet is to be secured. The parts are assembled, by machine or otherwise, as shown in Fig. 2, being then fully seated and clenched by the sets into the form shown in Fig. 3, the barrel of the gromet extending through a hole previously punched in the material 7 and being clenched upon the flange of the washer 2. Ordinarily, the barrel portion of the washeris not affected by the sets in the setting operation but if pressure should be applied, as in case the gromet should be inserted in unusually thin work, the said barrel, being of light material, would be readily crushed and would offer no appreciable resistance to the setting of the gromet.

An important feature of the invention consists in the fact that one and the same washer may be used on Work of various thicknesses. Vhile it is not desired nor intended to have the barrel go through the work, the said barrel, being quite thin and easily crushed,.will do no harm if it does project through. The material of the barrel 6 also serves to some extent to reinforce the stock 7 around the hole. 7

Having described my invention, What I smooth, flat, relatively heavy flange for en gaging the other side of the material and a short continuous relatively thin barrel projecting into an aperture in the material and surrounding the barrel of the gromet, whereby the Washer barrel is adapted to be deformed'by the gromet barrel during the setting operation.

1 In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. "WALTER SHAW;

Witnesses 4 HERBERT W. KENWAY, JAMES it. HODDER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

